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Drew has always lived in the shadow of the Hensley Mansion, a sinister southern home up on the hill.

Once you enter, you really never leave and Drew discovered that no once but twice.

The first time she was sixteen-years-old with a group of friends on Hallow's Eve and the second time to get rid of an abusive husband she couldn't escape, but it cost her more than just her freedom.

To make it worse now, Drew Anderson has to relive her time in the Hensley mansion to help demolition constructor Stansley flatten the evil brooding in that house. But little did she know she has to visit for a third time to fulfill the task.

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About the Book

With her stepfather's sudden death, Lady Anastasia Covington goes from living a privileged lifestyle to selling vegetables in the village marketplace in the blink of an eye. Alone and at the mercy of her nefarious stepsister, she yearns for love and acceptance.

Disguised as a simple soldier, Prince Percival catches a dark-haired emerald-eyed beauty in his arms. He is bewitched. The more he sees her, the more intrigued he is by her contradictions. Forced to keep his identity a secret, he must somehow convince Lady Anastasia he is the right man for her. But time is running out. Lady Anastasia's mother is determined to find a proper suitor and see her wed. And someone wants her dead.

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What book or series can you see getting made into a movie and not being horribly re-written?

Final Thoughts

Let's face the facts: the last few ghostwritten V. C. Andrews books have been stinkers! Many fans, including me, have criticized Andrew Neiderman's storytelling or the lack thereof. The real V. C. Andrews had a natural talent for writing gothic descriptions, which, sadly, has been missing from Neiderman's recent outings.

So, is The Umbrella Lady worth reading?

It's an improvement for Andrew Niederman, if that means anything to anyone. At least it's an original story that doesn't borrow from the past. (FYI: I'm referring to the unnecessary and incoherent Flowers in the Attic prequels.) I read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy), so I'm not going to nitpick any errors from it. The narration is from the point-of-view of an adult Saffron, who's looking back and telling us the story. Well, at least that's the vibe I am getting from it.

How are the descriptions?

The descriptions are generic at best but better than the recent ghostwritten titles. However, the storytelling is a far cry from the real V. C. Andrews's gothic touch. As a reader, I want to see, feel, and smell the atmosphere. The majority of this tale takes place in or around a house, and for some reason, Neiderman decided not to describe it. Instead of descriptions, the author focused more on dialogue.

Overall, The Umbrella Lady is an intriguing start to a new series. It's far from being perfect, but at least it's not a complete disaster. I could nitpick the crap out of this book, but there's no point in me doing so. I thought the young protagonist was interesting. For the most part, I did enjoy the story. The big twist was predictable. Had it went another way, I wouldn't have liked it as much.

All in all, The Umbrella Lady is a decent read.